Of Tethered Shadows: Ancient and Unforgivable

Chapter 10: Charms Class

They exited out a door that led them onto a bright green lawn. Lucy couldn't believe her eyes when students on brooms were flying by. Professor Ronen inhales the fresh air, "I've always found that fun goes hand in hand with mastery, as I'm sure the Quidditch players amongst us would agree."

Leander rolled his eyes behind Professor Ronen, which in turn made Lucy roll her eyes at Leander.

Professor Ronen parked the class in the middle of the lawn, chuckling to himself, "So, what better than a bit of sport to put our prowess with the Summoning Charm to test? Right?"

Natty and Poppy smiled at each other in excitement, Lucy stood next to them, her eyes searching for Sebastian, but he was nowhere to be found. She had a feeling if she turned her head around, she'd find him there with the Blonde boy. Her heart raced as she tried to decide what was easier: Pretending he wasn't behind her or confirming he was?

She sucked in her breath, turning her head to see Sebastian already staring at her, this time a warm smile grew on his face. She smiled in return, quickly noticing the Blonde boy's pale eyes before turning her head back to Professor Ronen.

Professor Ronen pulled out his wand, a pointy orange wood with a bronze handle at the hilt. He waved his wand around in front of him, chirping in joy at the platform transforming in front of the class. The platform divided itself amongst four colors painted on its wood: blue, green, orange, and red in the back with two sets of colored spheres in red and blue land in the middle. The floor beneath Lucy's feet lifted her with Professor Ronen onto a raised wooden platform separate from the colored platform.

"But there's certainly no sport in playing without some friendly competition. So, why don't we have our newest students start us off huh!? Miss Onai, come on up!" Professor Ronen instructed happily.

Natty smiled proudly, stepping up onto the platform next to Lucy, who was still startled.

"Now Miss Onai, you will be playing red and Miss Bellamy, you will be blue, Clear?"

Natty and Lucy nodded, wands raised at the platform.

"Very simply, cast Accio on one of the spheres and relinquish your charm at the very last possible moment. There are three spheres for each opponent, whoever has all three of their spheres the closest to the blue zone wins."

A few students murmur excitedly, they crowd over the side of the platform. Sebastian and the Blonde boy both sit down on the grass, their faces wandering over to Lucy immediately.

Natty crosses her arms, a sly grin forming.

"Be sharp," Natty tells Lucy.

"Accio!"

With a firm flick, Natty's sphere soars forward, skimming to a stop in the orange zone. A few students whistle and nod approvingly.

"That is how it's done!" Natty exclaims.

"Now, think of this like Gobstones if you will. But instead of throwing marbles out, you are summoning them toward you," Professor Ronen advises to the rest of the class sitting on the lawn.

Lucy sets her stance, her brows furrow slightly in concentration.

"Accio!"

Her sphere hurtles toward the blue zone and just manages to halt to a stop at the very edge.

The class reacts with surprised murmurs. Sebastian, lingering near the back with arms crossed, lets out a low whistle.

"I might have to introduce myself now," he tells the Blonde boy.

The Blonde boy groans beside him.

"Watch this!" Natty shouts as Lucy raises her wand at the same time.

"Accio!" They both shout in unison.

Both spheres shoot forward with fierce momentum. Natty's sphere lands cleanly in the blue zone. Lucy's sphere jerks to a perfect stop right beside Natty's. The class cheers in unison at the successful summon charm Natty and Lucy made at the same time. Sebastian claps his hands together, raising a fist up in the air with his cheers.

Lucy can't help the corner of her mouth curling up slightly.

"Excellent control there! Let's make things a bit more interesting, shall we?" Professor Ronen claps his hands together, delighted.

Professor Ronen waved his wand at the platform, two cinder blocks appeared and glided repeatedly back and forward across the platform, making the path for the spheres blocked from time to time.

Natty chuckles, "I think we are well past interesting at this point."

"I'll say," Lucy muttered to Natty.

"Enough chatter, focus now! You will need it!" Professor Ronen instructed.

"This round settles it all!"

"Accio!" They both shout in unison, wands raised.

Both spheres shoot forward fiercely. Lucy's sphere slides past the gliding cinder blocks before they collide with each other and lands cleanly in the blue zone. Natty's sphere moves forward swiftly, making it past the cinderblocks the moment they collide into each other. The class cheers in unison. The Blonde boy slowly clapped his hand, his gaze focused distantly away from the platform.

"Remarkable! Points to Hufflepuff and Gryffindor."

Lucy and Natty exchange wide smiles, both flushed from concentration and clearly from the win.